Streak Ends @ 7

• All good things must come to an end including the Rockets seven game winning streak after a 5-3 setback Tuesday night in Kamloops. The Rockets were sharp offensively in this one, but some sloppy play defensively saw the Rockets lose for just the 14th time this season. The Rockets took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission only to see the Blazers score three-second period goals in the first four minutes to take command of the game.
• The Blazers received a solid goaltending performance from Justin Leclerc. Leclerc’s best save may have come off of Rockets leading scorer Colin Long with the Blazers holding a 4-2 lead. With just over 8 minutes left in the period, Long was sent in all alone on the backhand, yet Leclerc stayed with the play and made a nice right pad save to preserve the home teams two goal lead.
• With the Rockets trailing 5-2 in the third, again Leclerc made two big saves off of Rockets defenseman Tyler Myers and Tyson Barrie. Barrie’s chance came off a tremendous pass from the corner from Colin Long which had him one on one with the goaltender. Barrie went top shelf, only to see Leclerc snag the puck out of mid air.
• The Rockets were expected to start Torrie Jung in goal last night against the Blazers, but the 18 year old was hurt in the pre-game warm up with what Rockets assistant coach Jeff Finley described as back injury. Overage Kristofer Westblom was pressed into action, and from my angle appeared to fight the puck. Bottom line...it was not one of Westblom’s best games.
• Rockets European forward Milan Kytnar left the game in the early stages of the second period after re-injuring an ankle sprain that has been slowing him up this season. Kytnar went to the Rockets dressing room and never returned.
• Brady Leavold scored his career high 15th goal of the season in last night’s loss. Leavold also extended his point streak to 9 games. Colin Long also had two assists in the loss, moving four points up on Chilliwack’s Mark Santorelli for the WHL scoring lead.
• The Rockets are 0-2-0-1 in three appearance in Kamloops this season. The Rockets make one more stop at the Interior Savings Centre on February 8th.